Self-feeding magazine pencil



J F. DREDGE SELF FEEDING MAGAZINE PENCIL Filed Jan. 22, 1955 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates generally to magazine pencils, and particularly to a self-feeding magazine pencil which is composed of few and. simple parts and is capable of being manufactured at a relatively low cost, and an important object of my invention is to provide a mechanically efficient magazine pencil of the character indicated above which will not readily get out of order, and in which the individual leads contained in the magazine thereof are fed automatically into place for use in the pencil.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately centrally.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the extensible part of the pencil.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 3 taken at right angles thereto.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the lead gripping members.

Figure 6 is an edge elevational view of Figure 5.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are transverse vertical sectional views taken through Figure 2 approximately on the lines (-1, 8-8, 99, and Ill-l0, respectively.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the tensionlng spring and feeder.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through the eraser cap.

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view through another embodiment in which the lead guiding bore is of a polygonal instead of a circular shape, so as to handle square or polygonal leads as well as round leads.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 refers generally to the embodiment which is composed of the tubular handle 6 having the slits 1 at one end and the slits 8 at the opposite end to provide for expansion of these ends and enable the portions defined between the slits to be contracted so as to grip members inserted in the respective ends.

Into the end equipped with the slits 8 there is forced a metallic cup 9 containing an eraser II], the cup 9 being held in place by friction. At the same end of the handle 6 and longitudinally disposed is a pocket clip II which is fastened in place by means of an anchor I2 which traverses the handle as indicated in Figure 2 and provides a pivot for a tensioning and feeding plunger to be described.

Slidably telescoped into the opposite end of the handle 6 is the lead feeding section l3 which is in the form of a tube having open ends one of which is slidably telescoped into the handle 6, the

remaining end extending from the handle as.-

shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The tube l3 constitutes the means for holding in opposed relation two wooden or other suitable material half-round members [4 and I 5 which are substantially identical in structure and; which form the actual guides for the lead, define the lead magazine, and the writing point of the pencil. At one end of the members I 4 and Hi there is a frustro-conical enlargement l6 defining a shoulder I! arranged to abut the outer end of the tube l3 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, while the balance of the members is snugly received within the tube l3 so as to be forcibly engaged in face to face relation as indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and also in the cross sectional Figures '7, 8, 9, and 10. The inner ends of the half sections I 4 and H) are arranged approximately flush with the inner end of the tube I3 as indicated in the drawing.

Each of the sections l4 and I5 is provided in its fiat side with a longitudinal half bore which is either half round or of the composite shape indicated in Figure 13 for the purpose of receiving either round or polygonal shaped leads, the twohalf bores forming the complete lead guiding bore when the sections are opposed and in position in the tube l3.

One side of the bore I8 and the corresponding side or edge of the section is slightly cut away from the point l9 to the point 20 as indicated at 2i and the opposite side of the fiat face of the section is similarly reduced as indicated at 22 beginning from the point 23 and extending to the inner end of the section. The cut-away parts 2| provide when the sections are opposed and in assembled position, the sildeway for the spring plunger which is generally designated 24, the slideway being narrower than the lead. The cut-away portions 22 provide the lead receptacle or magazine which is closed by the inner side of the tube l3 which surrounds the space defined by the cuts 2| and the edge of the plunger in the slideway. It will be noticed that the end of the cuts 22 which is defined by the point 23 is outward of the point I9.

The individual leads 25 which, as stated, may be either round or polygonal in shape, rest in the space defined by the cuts 22, 22 as shown in Figure '7 and are confined laterally by the tube [3 and at their ends by the portions 19 and of the sections I4 and I5, and by the edge of the plunger.

The long fiat spring plunger 24 has a journal 26 at its inward end which is pivoted on the pivot l2 in the handle 6, the plunger being of a length to extend well into the tube 13 through the slot which is defined by the cut-out portions 22, 22 in the sections [4 and I5 as shown in Figure2, so that the outer end of the spring 24 can reach the point 23, and in so doing pass outwardly of the point I9 when the tube 13 is telescoped'into the handle 6. When positioned, as shown in Figure '7, in the lead guiding bore, the upper edge of the plunger 24 prevents a lead fromfalling from the magazine into the lead guiding bore I8, but when the plunger is withdrawn to a position inward of the point 2%, which is the inward end of the magazine, a lead is free to dropfrom the magazine into the lead guidingbore, is in such a position that when the tube I3 is pushed into the handle 6 from the extreme extended position in which the plunger was withdrawn and a lead permitted to fall into position in the bore, the plunger will get behind the inner end of the new lead and push the same in an outward direction.

It is to be observed that a new lead is fed into the lead guiding bore without removing the old lead or a worn down portion thereof and without disturbing the worn down lead, which can be seen in position in Figure 2, with the new lead therebehind.

The plunger 24 is of spring character so as to strengthen the relationship of the parts with which it isassociated and at the same time provide for a desirable amount of flexible relation between the parts which would be absent if a rigid feeding member were to be employed. It will be observed that the pencil is formed of only the following parts, the tubular handle, the spring plunger 24, the tube l3, and the two sections ['4 and I5. Although the pocket clip II and the eraser are not the essential parts of the invention apart from the use and manipulation of the invention as a magazine pencil, it will be observed that the member [2 which holds the pocket clip ll serves also as the pivotal mounting for the spring '24, and that the pivot l2 and the journal of the spring 24 form the abutment for limiting the inward socketing movement of the cup 9 which contains the eraser [0. Therefore, real cooperation is thought to be present between the pocket clip and the eraser structure and the handle tube 6 and the spring 24.

It will be observed that the slot in which the lead feeding plunger 24 works and which is defined by the opposed out out portions 2| is narrower than the lead receiving bore l8, so that the leads are not permitted to fall through the said slot but stop in the said bore when the support of the upper edge of the plunger is withdrawn from that part of the said slot which is in communication with the lead magazine. The relative lengths of the tubes and of the sections I4 and H5 are such that the tube 6 may be withdrawn in an axially outward direction a sufficient distance to completely withdraw the plunger 24 from closure relation to the lead magazine without coming off the tube Hi. The tubes 6 and I3 and-also the body composed of the sections [4 and I5 may have shapes and contours other than circular, and these parts may be constructed from different suitable materials.

It is obvious that when the feed plunger has been pushed all of the way in its inner end will substantially abut the shoulder 23 so that the axially inward end of the full-length lead will be flush with the shoulder 23 and completely out of the way of a following lead which is free to drop from the magazine cut, the bore l8 to act as a plunger for pushing the said full lead outwardly when the plunger 24 is worked inwardly after the said following lead has dropped from the magazine into the bore l8.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto,

and any change or changes may be made in the the magazine into said bore, the adjacent side of the members being cut away below the bore for a lead feed plunger which is slidable therein between said members and in said bore and having one end secured to said handle, and an abutment between said members adjacent the outer ends thereof for limiting the outward movement of said plunger.

JOSEPH F. DREDGE. 

